Campground Maps

Directions

AHRA Visitor Center

To get to the AHRA Visitor Center from the intersection of Highways 285/24 at Johnson Village, go south on Highway 285, drive 14 miles to Hwy 291, turn left, drive 8 miles to G St and turn left at the Skateboard Park. Go to the end of this block which intersects with Sackett Ave, parallel to the Arkansas River. The AHRA Visitor Center is the brick building with a blue roof on the corner of G and Sackett Streets. From the intersection of Highways 50/291, turn north on Hwy 291 (1st Street), go one block past the stop light to G Street, turn right 1 block to Sackett Ave, turn left. The Visitor Center is on the left corner of Sackett and G Streets.

(Updated: 2/14/2018 11:41 AM)

Generic

Unlike
most other Colorado State Parks, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area does not
have one set of driving directions to get to the park. This is because the AHRA park is actually a linear recreation area that follows the Arkansas River for
152 miles from the high mountains near Leadville, Colorado, to Lake Pueblo, on
the edge of Colorado’s plains and there are a number of highways and roads
entering the valley. Along the way, the AHRA has six basic campgrounds, numerous
picnic areas, fishing and boating access points and trail access.

(Updated: 6/14/2018 11:54 AM)

To Five Points Campground

Five Points campground is located approximately 15 miles west of Cañon City off U.S. Highway 50 at mile marker 260 between the towns of Cañon City and Cotopaxi. The road has a major acceleration/deceleration lane and is well marked with signs on the highway.

(Updated: 2/14/2018 11:34 AM)

To Hecla Junction Campground

The
exit for Hecla Junction is located on Highway 285 about a mile north of the
Highway 291 exit, between mile markers 135 and 136. Turn east onto County Road
194. Drive 2.4 miles to the end of the road and you're at Hecla Junction.
Caution: this is a narrow, fairly steep (12 percent grade) dirt road with a
quite a bit of traffic. Low gear is recommended for the descent.

(Updated: 5/20/2014 10:32 AM)

To Railroad Bridge Campground

From
U.S. Highway 24, there are two ways to access Railroad Bridge. The first route
is recommended if you have an RV or trailer. Take U.S. Highway 24 into the town
of Buena Vista. Turn east at the only stop light in town and then travel two
blocks past the railroad tracks to N. Colorado Avenue and turn left. This will
turn into Chaffee County Road 371, which is a dirt road that is narrow in
places. Drive 6.2 miles from where you turned onto N. Colorado Avenue and you
will be at Railroad Bridge Campground. The second route is located between mile
markers 201 and 202 on Highway 24 north of Buena Vista. It is not recommended
for RVs or vehicles with trailers. Turn east onto Chaffee County Road 371, cross
the Arkansas River and turn right. Drive 3.1 miles on a very narrow dirt road
with pullouts that allows oncoming traffic to pass (Caution: 25 mph speed limit)
to the Railroad Bridge Campground. If you continue south from the campground on
County Road 371, it will take you into Buena Vista.

(Updated: 5/20/2014 10:32 AM)

To Rincon Campground

Rincon
is off of Highway 50 about eight miles east of Salida. It is located at mile
marker 231 between the towns of Swissvale and Howard. The exit is located on the
north side on a very curvy section of the highway.

(Updated: 5/1/2018 9:20 AM)

To Ruby Mountain Campground

The
exit for Ruby Mountain is located south of Buena Vista on U.S. Highway 285,
between mile markers l44 and 145. Turn east (towards the river) on Chaffee
County Road 301, which can be identified by the large, yellow River Runners
signs. Go across the river to the end of the pavement and turn right onto County
Road 300. Drive 2.4 miles to the Ruby Mountain Campground and Recreation Site.
Caution should be used when entering the campground because the road is a narrow
single lane, with limited visibility and a 15 mph speed limit.

(Updated: 5/20/2014 10:34 AM)

To Salida East Campground

Salida East is located approximately 1.5 miles east of Salida, Co on US Highway 50 at mile marker 224. ​Signage is easily seen from Highway 50. ​

(Updated: 11/29/2017 1:21 PM)

To Vallie Bridge Campground

From U.S. Highway 50 at mile marker 239 between the towns of Howard and Coaldale, approximately 20 miles east of Salida. Turn north onto Fremont County Road 45, cross the river and park in the day use site. Please note this is a boat-in/walk-in only campground and you will have to unload your equipment and park at the designated parking area. Vallie Bridge campground can be accessed from the beach for campers who boat in, and there is a walking trail that goes from the campground, across County Road 45 to the restroom.